Workers in hairdressing salons are exposed to several hundred chemicals, of which a few are possibly detrimental to pregnant workers or their fetuses. In Quebec, a government program provides protective reassignment for exposed pregnant workers. This study was set up to assist public health physicians by describing the exposure levels for ingredients that were measurable (i.e., airborne), selected from a list of possibly detrimental hairdressing ingredients. Twenty-six salons were sampled in Montreal, Canada, between June 1996 and December 1997. At the time of sampling, information on certain work conditions (e.g., chemical services offered, number of clients, average CO(2) level during the day) was also noted. Fifty percent of the salons provided additional services other than hairdressing, such as manicures, pedicures, or beauty treatments. Almost half of the salons were quite small, with less than 5 employees. Average temperature ranged between 17 and 26 degrees C, relative humidity between 18 and 59 percent and average CO(2) concentrations from 583 to 4301 mg/m(3). Duration of samples varied between 15 minutes and 8 hours. The most prevalent chemicals were alcohols: ethanol, at an average personal concentration of 39.9 mg/m(3), and isopropanol at an average personal concentration of 3.1 mg/m(3). Acetone, toluene, and acetates, all related to manicure services, were also measured in small quantities. An empirical mathematical model brought in evidence that CO(2) levels explained 46 percent of variation in the concentration of ethanol; when number of permanent waves done during the day and relative humidity and temperature were added, the resulting model explained 68 percent of the variations in ethanol. Thus, although the measured concentrations of chemicals were fairly low in this study, it appears possible that on very busy days, especially if other chemical services are performed in the salon, the total mixture of airborne chemicals could reach significant concentrations.

On July 6 2013, a train derailment occurred in the small town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, Canada, causing a major human and environmental disaster. In this case study, we comprehensively describe and analyze actions taken by the Public Health Department of the Eastern Townships, in close collaboration with community-based organizations, during both the impact phase emergency response and the post-impact recovery operations that continued for months. Due to the complexity of the event, public health actions needed to be broadly diversified. Preventive measures targeted chemical, physical, biological, and psychosocial hazards in the short-, medium- and long-term. Our analyses yielded valuable lessons that will improve and inform our response to future events while serving as a basis for developing a conceptual framework for public health emergency preparedness.

Objectives In 2015, a healthcare reform was undertaken in the province of Quebec (Canada). This amended system resources and structures, resulting in increased work-related stress, retirements, and sick leaves. In this study, we examined associations between stress, psychological distress, and resilience in this context. Methods A subsample of healthcare workers (n = 1008) from the 2014-2015 Eastern Townships population-based survey was used to examine resilience, its distribution among various occupational categories, and whether it moderated associations between stress and psychological distress. Chi-square analyses were used to look for differences between variables. Logistic regressions served to assess the moderating effect of resilience in the associations between stress and psychological distress. Results Healthcare workers' resilience was high. Employees with higher resilience are more likely to be older, male, educated, and affluent. One third of workers reported their work as quite or extremely stressful, 56.2% rated it as their main source of stress, and 25.7% reported psychological distress. Despite higher stress, administrators had higher resilience and lower psychological distress. Support staff had higher psychological distress and lower resilience. Occupation involving social staff, technicians, and professionals had higher psychological distress despite lower stress. A positive gradient in the distribution of resilience was observed in the healthcare system hierarchy with higher resilience and lower psychological distress among higher positions (despite equal stress). Higher resilience moderates the negative association between stress and psychological distress. Conclusion These results support workplace health promotion to foster employee health, particularly in the lower spectrum of the healthcare system hierarchy. Résumé Objectifs En 2015, une réforme du réseau de la santé a été entreprise au Québec. Celle-ci a généré une augmentation du stress, des départs à la retraite et des congés maladies. Cette étude examine les associations entre le stress, la détresse psychologique et les capacités d'adaptation. Méthodes Un échantillon de travailleurs de la santé (n = 1008) issu de l'enquête populationnelle sur la santé des estriens (2014-2015) a permis d'examiner la résilience et sa distribution entre diverses catégories professionnelles et de déterminer son rôle modérateur dans l'association entre le stress et la détresse psychologique. Des analyses de chi-carré ont documenté des différences entre les variables. Des régressions logistiques ont évalué le rôle modérateur de la résilience.

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This paper describes the Québec experience in the design and implementation of occupational health programs in the workplace. To begin with, a brief overview of the historical context and organisational framework of occupational health are presented. Next, each of the phases involved in the design of occupational health programs is described: identification of workers' health and safety problems, selection of action priorities, and program design, implementation and evaluation.... In the end, the roles and responsibilities of the doctors, nurses and industrial hygienists generally involved in these multidisciplinary teams are presented.